BUGS: The fourth annual Riverside Insect Fair featured Madagascar hissing cockroaches, fuzzy tarantulas, and vibrant butterflies in Downtown Riverside on Saturday, April 28th.
By Micah Pierce, Staff Writer
This year’s Insect Fair was hosted by the Riverside Metropolitan Museum and the University of California Riverside Entomology Graduate Student Association. This relatively new attraction first appeared in 2015 to both inform and entertain the residents of Riverside. The primary goal of the fair is to focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) education and get the citizens of Riverside’s small community interested in it as well. The insect fair puts a fun spin on important topics such as conservation and the endangerment of key species.
Over 50 booths were present at the fair, which took place both inside and around the Riverside Public Library. The crowds exceeded 200, taking in the assorted collection of preserved insects on display. The diverse collection of insects available for purchase ranged from the incredibly brawny Hercules beetles to the radiant Blue Morpho butterfly; there were even insects available as edible treats in the form of lollipops. However, dead insects weren’t the only ones present at the fair. Caterpillars and Monarch butterflies were only a few of the live insects appearing at the fair. Live Madagascar hissing cockroaches, walking-sticks, and walking leafs were included in demonstrations. The Monarch butterflies and hissing cockroaches were two of the most popular attractions at the fair, thanks to their highly interactive displays. Over 100 Monarch butterflies were released into a butterfly tent large enough to occupy several people, which became an instant hit. The Madagascar hissing cockroaches even participated in their very own race. The opportunity to get so up close and personal with exotic species is part of the insect fair’s allure. Most of the insects present at the fair come from halfway around the world, and are creatures that most people would have to travel hundreds of miles to be able to experience. UCR and the Riverside Metropolitan Museum give visitors a unique opportunity to experience animal life they usually wouldn’t have here in Riverside.
Although they were the featured creatures, insects weren’t the only attractions available at the fair. Dr. Zoolittle, a wildlife researcher for the San Diego Zoo, even put on an interactive show. The “Zoolittle: Icky, Yucky, Gross Bugs Show” included not only insects, but also a few other animals from the San Diego Zoo. The animal ambassadors of the Living Desert Zoo and Garden were also present, and were available for informational chats for those that wanted to delve deeper into the stories and research behind the animals on display. The scientists of UCR’s Graduate School of Entomology also had booths that contained active research projects, and invited guests to participate in their research by observing insects through microscopes.
The opportunities provided by the organizers of the Fourth Annual Riverside Insect Fair are invaluable. They allow people to get out of their comfort zone or discover a passion that they didn’t know they had. The education of the new generation is vital, as the new wave of researchers and entomologists need to be well informed and prepared.